The RomanticComedy is ending, and the [[OfficialCouple Alpha Couple]] has finally hooked up. But what's this? It seems there's a BetaCouple in the wings! During the [[{{Denouement}} closing musical number/reception dance]] two characters who may or may not have interacted prior to this point are getting down and dirty, or even just looking at each suggestively as to imply they'll start dating.

This is essentially adding a cherry to the top of this HappyEnding, saying that after all the struggling and misunderstandings, the alpha couple's success has helped create love even between different people, implying they at least start dating and might even marry. It also serves as an abbreviated form of CleaningUpRomanticLooseEnds, so that the viewer can walk away happy knowing that the RomanticRunnerUp fiancé isn't left out in the cold but rather hooked up with the maid of honor who thought she'd never walk the aisle.

A thorny use of this trope comes when Gay friends of the main couple are implied to hook up this way. It might be to [[HideYourLesbians avoid the "dilemma" of showing on-screen gay couples]] which could alienate audiences, but [[UnfortunateImplications implies]] they'll both hook up [[TokenMinorityCouple just because they're gay]].

See also SexualKarma and MaybeEverAfter, where the implied hookup may involve main characters or characters who do have a RomanceArc of sorts, and PairTheSpares, where the romantic rivals of the main plot hook up with each other. May be followed up on in a DistantFinale.

----!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]* Speculated to have happened with Hiwatari and Risa in the end of ''DNAngel''.* Oujirou and Tamayo in the ''AngelicLayer'' manga. In the anime, where Tamayo and Misaki switch love interests, both couples get equal amounts of time and the last-minute hookup is between [[spoiler:Icchan and Shuuko... which is also implied in the manga, but certainly causes problems when one wonders how the series relates to ''Manga/{{Chobits}}'']].* At the end of ''ChronoCrusade'', [[spoiler: Azmaria and Joshua]] are shown holding hands at [[spoiler: Rosette's funeral]].* In ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'', Ken and Miyako are married with kids, as are Yamato and Sora.* In ''Anime/{{Mai-HiME}}'', [[spoiler:Natsuki and Shizuru]]'s relationship is left as ambiguous as humanly possible at the end of the series, fueled by the question of whether [[spoiler:Natsuki]]'s "love" was meant in a friendly or romantic way, giving fuel to thousands of shippers to resolve it in FanFic. The supplemental material released later makes things a lot clearer, with the artbook implying a hook-up after [[spoiler:Shizuru's graduation]].* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'''s WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue states that [[BelligerentSexualTension Kotarou and Natsumi]] got married and [[HideYourLesbians heavily implies (in a roundabout way)]] that Konoka and Setsuna did, too. Both couples had become partners by that stage, but although that effectively marked them as {{Official Couple}}s they didn't see themselves as together until then. Except probably Konoka, who ostensibly acted as if they were on a date whenever they went out somewhere − her [[AMagicContractComesWithAKiss Pactio kiss]] was also way longer and deeper than necessary.* The ''Manga/ShamanKing'' manga has Ren & Iron Maiden Jeanne whom never exchanged more than three lines in the entire series yet have a [[BabiesEverAfter son]] in the epilogue.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fanfic]]* An odd variant in ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/27874/Xenophilia Xenophilia]]'': the bulk of the story is based on developing the {{OT3}} between Lero, Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle, but Lyra Heartstrings is confirmed in ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/57315/The-Xenophile%27s-Guide-to-Equestria The Xenophilie's Guide to Equestria]]'' to have joined their "herd", after a lot of foreshadowing in the original story. This may be shown in a future [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/62265/Xenophilia%3A-Side-Stories side story]]* ''FanFic/AddressUnknown'': Applejack and Sterling, Celestia's doctor, have started dating by the time of the epilogue.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]* ''WesternAnimation/BarbieInThePrincessAndThePauper'' ends with the princess [[spoiler: marrying her particular teacher]], the pauper [[spoiler: marrying the Prince]] who was supposed to [[spoiler: marry the princess instead]]. But that's not just it, since the little cutesy Princess's pet cat end up with the pauper's stray cat who believes he's a dog. Actually, pretty much ''everyone'' in the movie fits this trope. except for [[SexualKarma the villiains]]. Hell, even the ''horse'' ends paired up!!!* In ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast'', Belle's father and Mrs. Potts share a look in the final ballroom scene.* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'' ends with Rex and Trixie, another dinosaur toy, playing video games together.* At the end of ''WesternAnimation/AGoofyMovie'', Max's Pauly Shore-voiced friend Bobby has such a hook-up with Roxanne's valley-girl best friend Stacey, when they both reach for Bobby's can of cheez whiz that he dropped. Bobby lifts his dark sunglasses and smiles at her, and Stacey gives him a brace-filled smile back. It's a cute/quirky moment, but there is absolutely no lead-up to it whatsoever. Not that anything came of either relationship in the sequel.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]* ''Film/BringItOn'' has this when the gay cheerleader of the team talks to another male cheerleader of another team.* At the end of ''Film/DownWithLove'' the Beta Couple is on the phone getting together with a hilarious synchronized chorus.* ''Film/FourWeddingsAndAFuneral''. Almost all the main cast are shown to be hooked up with someone at the end.* ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'': After the credits, we see Sharpay run toward Zeke (who has been crushing on her the whole movie) and jump on him because he makes the most awesome cookies ever. Of course the implied post movie hookup was kind of killed by [=HSM2=] (but then [=HSM3=] had them dance together at the prom... mixed signals, Disney!).* The ''Film/LordOfTheRings'' movies did this with Faramir and Éowyn (who were a canon couple in the book as well). However, since they had to cut the scenes showing them growing closer in the theatrical version, it ended up looking like a random hook up to resolve the LoveTriangle between Éowyn, Arwen and Aragorn.* Occurs at the end of the 1998 version of ''Film/TheParentTrap'' when, during the parent's wedding, Martin proposes to Chessy.* At the end of ''Film/SweetHomeAlabama'', the protagonist's gay friend from NY and gay friend in Alabama share a look.* Subverted in ''Film/ILoveYouMan''; the gay groomsman played by Thomas Lennon unsuccesfully hits on the protagonist's gay brother while at the wedding. "Sorry. You're not my type. I only date straight guys."* At the end of the movie ''Film/{{Stardust}}'' Captain Shakespeare (a closet FlamboyantGay) and Humphrey (himself getting married to Victoria, and not having been implied to be gay) share a look, with Victoria looking rather confused.* Done in a sequel: Hooper and Banky from ''Film/ChasingAmy'' are shown to have hooked up afterwards at the end of ''Film/JayAndSilentBobStrikeBack''.* ''Film/SkyHigh'': ** At the end, TroubledButCute Warren Peace is shown holding hands at the Homecoming with Freeze Girl -- even though the two never actually interacted during the movie.** Arguably Zach and Magenta.** Being high school, it may just be a function of being at a dance, you pick someone to dance with but nothing will come of it the next day. Being Disney, the implications means exactly [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the trope implies]].* Heavily implied for [[spoiler: Scud and Janet]] at the end of ''Film/{{DEBS}}''; up until that point, they've been a BetaCouple of sorts, but they actually shared just a scene.* Eunice and Mr. Larrabee are implied to get together at the end of ''Film/WhatsUpDoc''* At the end of ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina'', Eddie and Margo (the IntrepidReporter wannabe) are implied to get together when their only previous interaction in the movie was an insult.* In the ''Film/RichieRich'' film, the butler Cadbury and Gloria's mother are seen kissing at the end.* In Amanda Bynes' ''Theatre/TwelfthNight'' HighSchoolAU ''ShesTheMan'', both of Duke's friends are shown paired up with someone. Toby got together with nerdy Eunice and [[AmbiguouslyGay Paul]] is seen fixing Andrew's tie, much to Andrew's confusion.** Sebastian finally got together with [[LoveAtFirstSight the girl he fell in love with the moment he saw her]], Olivia.** And also, Viola's parents, having been divorced, are sitting together at the end and most likely mending their relationship.** [[AlphaBitch Monique]] and [[JerkJock Justin]] are interestingly together, Monique being Sebastian's ex and Justin being Viola's ex.* During the Spring Fling scene at the end of ''Film/MeanGirls'' [[spoiler: Principal Duvall and Ms. Norbury]] share a meaningful look while dancing. [[spoiler: Janis and Kevin]] also dance at the Spring Fling and are seen kissing during the very last scene where Cady explains everyone's fate.* Many of Creator/AdamSandler's films end this way -- he gets the girl of his dreams, while everyone else is left with the spares.** [[ExaggeratedTrope Exaggerated]] and PlayedForLaughs in ''BillyMadison'' -- almost ''all'' of the film's minor characters hook up with someone, including the penguin that Billy hallucinated while he was drunk.** In ''Film/FiftyFirstDates'' Alexa is hitting on Doug at the wedding, though he looks noticeably uncomfortable.* The thorny Gay Friends version happens at the end of ''Film/{{Three to Tango}}'' when Peter, the gay partner of [[ComingStraightStory straight-but-people-thought-he-was-gay]] Oscar, ends up trading innuendo with Kevin, the newbie-gay football player whose nickname is [[GagPenis The Ponderosa]], now that Oscar has finally gotten the girl.* Inverted and then Subverted in ''Film/WhenHarryMetSally''. First, the titular leads actually try to set each other up with their respective best friends on a blind double date, but instead their two friends immediately click and become the official Beta Couple of the story, except they get their happy ending first with a wedding only a few months later. Harry and Sally are the Best Man and Maid of Honor but then subvert the trope by getting into a huge fight instead of getting together at that point.* In the last scene of ''Film/{{Starstruck}}'', which focuses on his cousin's romances while attempting to break into show business, Angus meets and starts playing kissy-face with a woman who had never appeared earlier in the film.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* In the ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'' parody ''Literature/BoredOfTheRings'', after Sorhed was defeated:-->''Of the Ballhog and Schlob, little was heard either, but local gossips reported that wedding bells were only centuries away.''* This happens to virtually every character in ''Literature/HarryPotter''. For those not specifically referenced in the epilogue, Creator/JKRowling tells who married who in interviews: [[TricksterTwins George]] winds up with Angelina ([[SettleForSibling who once dated Fred]]), [[TheUnChosenOne Neville]] marries [[OutOfFocus Hannah Abbott]], etc. [[RivalTurnedEvil Draco]], [[CloudCuckooLander Luna]] and [[ToBeLawfulOrGood Percy]] wind up marrying people who never even appeared in the story, and in Percy's case we know nothing about his wife except her first name. * At the end of ''DoubleIndemnity'', at least the novel, Nino and Lola get married, but the fugitives Walter and Phyllis are implied to commit [[TogetherInDeath mutual suicide]].* Creator/CSLewis's ''Literature/TheHorseAndHisBoy'' ends by mentioning that [[WellExcuseMePrincess Aravis]] moves in with [[MosesInTheBullrushes Shasta]]/[[spoiler:Prince Cor]] and that the two [[SlapSlapKiss continue to argue and make up constantly]] until they just decide that marrying will make the pattern easier. It [[ShipSinking sinks]] any romance between [[SapientSteed Bree and Hwin]], though, noting that they marry other people.* In Creator/DorothyLSayers' ''Literature/LordPeterWimsey'' mystery ''The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club'' ends with Robert Fentiman taking Ann Dorland out to a show, to help distract her from the unpleasantness.** In ''Have His Carcasse'', when the police officer is reluctant to try to prosecute the case, Harriet tells him that the dead man's fiancee danced with a different professional dancer, and her son did not look pleased. Since the motive for the murder was to prevent the mother's remarriage, they prosecute.* In Creator/PoulAnderson's "Literature/TimeLag", Ivalo says, after her rescue, that he hopes she will let him visit; the time lagged prisoners will need support to recover from their FishOutOfTemporalWater status.* [[spoiler:Luke Garroway and Jocelyn Fray]] at the end of ''Literature/CityOfGlass''. They planned to get married in ''City of Fallen Angels'' but the marriage was postponed indefinitely, with [[spoiler:Jace's possession by Lilith and subsequent disappearance]].* In ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'', due to the Jane-Austen-Style plot elements, there is one match in the making at the end of the novel, [[spoiler: Jerin's cousin Dail would like to marry the Moorland sisters, and Cullen Whistler, née Moorland approves of the idea]] Also, depending on how you define it, Jerin doesn't "hook up" with all of his wives in the wedding night, as some of them are not yet of age. [[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]* Creator/AnnaRussell's "How to Write Your Own Gilbert and Sullivan Opera" spoofs (along with every other G&S trope) the tendency of "the liitle man who sings the patter song" to end up with "the big fat contralto". Dandelion (the aforementioned "big fat contralto") even sings about it in the final number, although it appears it will come as a surprise to Claude Billy Bunion ("the little man who sings the patter song").[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]* The musical version of ''Theatre/TwoGentlemenOfVerona'' pulled this with Thurio and Lucetta, who had no prior interaction in either the musical or the original play.* ''Theatre/{{Drood}}'' has the audience vote in two characters to get together and sing a romantic duet at the end, which often leads to some pretty interesting {{Crack Pairing}}s.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* At the end of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'', Booster and Valentina get married. [[GuideDangIt Though you'll never see it unless you're told about it]], you can actually see Booster propose to Valentina if, [[EventFlag after defeating her]], you go all the way back up to the top of Booster's Tower and look at the balcony. As it doesn't get you anything and is easily missed, it's probably there because TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything.* ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork 6''. If you played the game (or any in the series for that matter) then it should be blatantly obvious. [[spoiler: Lan and Mayl marry and have a kid who has a Navi who is a hybrid of Mega Man's and Roll's data.]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* The biggest WillTheyOrWontThey on ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' were Numbuhs Four and Three. In Operation I.N.T.E.R.V.I.E.W.S., the DistantFinale where the heroes are portrayed as adults, the two are shown to be married (the revelation not made until close to the end of the episode).* Subverted on ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' with [[AsianAirhead Stacy]] and [[BlackBestFriend Coltrane]]; they play BetaCouple to [[OfficialCouple Candace and Jeremy]] in the episode "The Baljeatles" and end the episode holding hands, but in a later episode Stacy goes out with somebody else with no mention of whether she and Coltrane ever dated.** WordOfGod says has said that both [[ToyShip Phineas/Isabella]] and [[PrecociousCrush Ferb/Vanessa]] would happen one day, even if they never happen on the show.* ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'' creator Craig Bartlett said that not only would Arnold and Helga hook up if ''The Patakis'' had been made, but Gerald and Phoebe would as well (and become the main couple, sort of).* Treated a bit oddly on ''WesternAnimation/KickButtowski'' where the Beta Couple Gunther/Jackie hooked up in an episode, however it has never been mentioned again, but fans seem to take this as a "They will one day", more so to get Jackie off of Kick's back to fuel the FanPreferredCouple of Kick/Kendall (depending on the episode).[[/folder]]